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Big Papi the star of stars at Derby

Big Papi the star of stars at Derby

PITTSBURGH -- To Red Sox Nation, David Ortiz is the inimitable "Big Papi," leader of the pack.

To his new Boston teammate, Mark Loretta, Ortiz is "the biggest personality in the game, somebody people gravitate to with his great smile, great laugh."

To his oldest amigos in the Dominican Republic, Ortiz answers to "Pecosa." Why?

"Because of the way he slaps the baseball," Edwin Garcia said on Monday night as Team Papi gathered for the CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby. "Pecosa is 'slap' in Spanish. That's what we all call him."

Imagine that. David Ortiz, slap hitter. You learn something new every day.

The big man launched some moon shots -- and came through, as always, in the clutch -- to advance into the final four in the Home Run Derby, entertaining his buddies as well as an enthusiastic crowd at PNC Park with 10 first-round blasts.

Only the Mets' David Wright, with 16 rockets, outdid "Pecosa" -- and both showed the effects in the second round, Wright going deep only twice, Ortiz just three times.

As Ortiz paused late in the second round to collect himself, Garcia and another Team Papi member came out to refresh him with a towel and some encouragement.

Their man responded with one more booming shot before tapping out to another rousing ovation.

Loretta might be right when he calls Ortiz the biggest personality in the game today. Certainly no player has come so far from such humble beginnings, which is part of what makes Big Papi so endearing.

Back home in the Dominican Republic, Garcia befriended a teenage Ortiz long before the world would open its arms to him as he was leading the Red Sox on their unforgettable 2004 World Series journey.

"He's my best friend ever," said Garcia, known as "Monga" to Ortiz and others in their orbit. "I played baseball, too, and I introduced David to my scout in Los Trinitario -- Ramon De Los Santos. That's how he signed."

Ortiz was 17 years old and 10 days when he signed with the Seattle Mariners in November 1992. Seattle sent him to Minnesota four years later as the player to be named in a deal for Dave Hollins, and the Twins, in a move they won't be allowed to forget, let Ortiz go after the 2002 season.